Three reasons Seahawks will beat the 49ers in week 17
By Lee Vowell
Here are three reasons the Seahawks will win in week 17 versus the 49ers.
The Seattle Seahawks are 11-4 which is the exact same record that Seattle had going into week 17 last year. And just like 2019, the Seahawks will end their season by playing the San Francisco 49ers. This time, however, the outcome of the game will not determine the NFC West champion. Seattle already has that clinched.
But if Seattle wins on Sunday and the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers both lose, Seattle will be the number one seed in the NFC so the Seahawks do have something to play for. And here are three reasons they will win against the 49ers.
Russell Wilson
Well, this isn’t a surprise, right? But let’s also be real about things. The reason Seattle has won some games lately is more about how well the defense is playing than Russell Wilson. Seattle has won five of their last six games and during that stretch, Wilson has 10 touchdown passes versus 3 interceptions but 4 of those TDs came in week 14’s victory over the Jets.
But Wilson hasn’t thrown for more than 263 yards since week 9 so the offense isn’t working the same way that it was at the beginning of the season. But against a banged-up 49ers secondary in week 17 and with support from Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, Wilson will have a great game with 4 TD passes, three of them going to D.K. Metcalf.
Pass rush
Goodness, when was the last time I was able to write that one reason Seattle was going to win a game was because of its pass rush? Seattle has 34 sacks in their last 9 games and, unlike the 49ers in week 8 when Seattle had 3 sacks, the Seahawks will have Carlos Dunlap and Jamal Adams available. Seattle will get 7 sacks on Sunday.
Next. 3 bold predictions for Seahawks versus 49ers week 17. dark
Motivation
The 49ers are a well-coached team and will play hard in week 17 but they also will be missing a ton of good players. Seattle knows with a win it puts itself in a position to have a shot at a number one seed. Plus, I think the Seahawks are beginning to feel like they can make a deep run in the playoffs and a team that truly thinks that way will easily beat an injury-riddled 49ers team.